Tornadoes, Hail & Damaging Winds Threaten Alabama Tuesday

As part of a larger severe weather system sweeping through multiple states, it will reach Alabama on Tuesday.

Residents are encouraged to stay weather aware as this storm develops and check back often for updates.

Threats

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said the main concerns are “damaging winds up to 60 mph, hail up to golf ball size, and isolated, brief tornadoes.”

This system, “At first, supercell thunderstorms could include a threat of strong tornadoes,” said The Weather Channel. “Thereafter, wind damage should become the primary concern as storms form into lines or clusters.”

James Spann, ABC 33/40, and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist said, "If any discrete storms form ahead of the line, the tornado risk will be higher.”

Threat Areas

The Storm Prediction Center has Alabama under three different risk levels.

West Alabama Threat Areas

Bibb – Mostly under a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5)

Fayette - "Enhanced Risk" (Level 3/5)

Greene – Mostly under a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5)

Hale – The county is divided between a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5) and a "Marginal Risk” (Level 1/5)

Lamar - "Enhanced Risk" (Level 3/5)

Perry - "Marginal Risk” (Level 1/5)

Pickens – The county is divided between an "Enhanced Risk" (Level 3/5) and a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5).

Sumter – The county is divided between a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5) and a "Marginal Risk” (Level 1/5)

Tuscaloosa – The county is mostly under a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5).

Walker – The county is divided between a “Slight Risk" (Level 2/5) and a "Marginal Risk” (Level 1/5)

Timeline

The current thoughts on the incoming severe weather will be on Tuesday, May 20, starting in the evening and continuing into the nighttime hours.

“A line of severe thunderstorms will likely enter the northwest corner of the state around 6:00 p.m., and it will move through the northern half of the state tomorrow night,” said Spann. In addition, “the line of storms should reach Tuscaloosa/Birmingham/Gadsden/Anniston in the 9-11 p.m. time frame.”

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The Townsquare Media weather team will continue to monitor this developing severe weather threat.

Mary K. – Weather Forecaster